Having recently celebrated another successful circumnavigation around the sun (that’s yogi speak for becoming a year older) I am increasingly aware of the looming threat of that old lady disease, osteoporosis. In the UK it is estimated that one in two women and one in five men aged over 50 will have an osteoporotic fracture in […]
Strength Training for Bone Health? Read More »
As we have now moved beyond the Autumn Equinox and are moving inexorably towards the dark day of winter, I thought I’d take a look at Vitamin D, otherwise known as “the Sunshine Vitamin”. Vitamin D deficient? There’s always lots of press about vitamin D around this time of year as our main source of
Vitamin D: A Vital Vitamin for Women Peri-to-Post Menopause Read More »
Restorative yoga is really helpful in our frenetic world as it encourages our bodies to surrender and relax, something we’re not generally used to doing. Restorative postures, which are often supported by blocks, blankets and bolsters, are designed to maximise comfort and allow practitioners to fully let go, which is why they are typically held
The Benefits of Restorative Yoga: the Why and the How Read More »
Symptoms of perimenopause Oh the joys of perimenopause! Beyond the hot flushes and the night sweats (the two best-known symptoms) women can suffer from a myriad of issues ranging from the psychological – anxiety, overwhelm, mood swings and brain fog – to the physical such as IBS and other digestive problems, aching joints, insomnia, migraines,
Managing Menopause with Yoga Read More »
High in protein and slow-release energy I’ll be the first to admit these need a catchier name but really, when they tick so many boxes, it’s a shame not to advertise the fact. Most importantly they are utterly delicious and I haven’t met anyone (yet) who doesn’t like them, including my teens who are by
Delicious Sugar-free, Gluten-free Vegan Granola Bars Read More »
If you’re anything like me, midlife seems almost overwhelmingly busy. I spend much of my time firefighting: work, family, finances, planning and a million items on my never-ending to-do list all jostle for priority, with my attention directed towards whatever is most pressing at the time. There’s little time for reflection. And yet, at midlife,
The Wheel of Life: Finding Your Balance Read More »
I made these cookies a few weeks ago for a mini retreat that I hosted with Sally Page and they went down a treat. Several of you asked for the recipe, so here it is! They contain no flour (so are gluten free), can be free of refined sugar (if you use chocolate with 100% cocoa) and
Chocolate Nut & Seed Cookies Read More »
A seasonal practice to create calm Now that it’s December and it feels natural to be lighting candles and perhaps seeking a bit of calm in the manic build-up to Christmas, I thought it would be good to take a look at restorative yoga and even suggest a few poses to practise at home, particularly
‘Tis the Season; Festive Yoga Read More »
As I wobbled around in Vrksasana (tree pose) in my yoga practice the other day I reflected on how importance balance is in our lives, and how easy it is to get out of kilter, both on and off the mat. Work-life balance, emotional balance, nutritional balance: All these things are finely tuned and it
I know this is a strong claim, but hear me out. Perhaps it should come with a caveat: best banana bread ever for midlife women! I baked this banana bread for my recent afternoon Thrive Mini Retreat and it went down a storm, with several attendees asking for the recipe. It was good, but what
Best Banana Bread Ever! Read More »
Last Sunday I made these Protein Bliss Balls for the Thrive Mini Retreat yoga and nutrition workshop. Bliss balls are a versatile healthy treat that can be made in so many different ways. They are often filled with energy-boosting ingredients such as dates and nuts, making them jam-packed with healthy fats, carbohydrates, fibre and protein.
Protein Bliss Balls Read More »
Strength in nature Having written about the importance of Vitamin D for bone health in my previous post it would be remiss of me not to mention the importance of strength and resistance training which works alongside nutrition in order to keep our bones healthy as we age. Strength training and bone density One of the many
Building Strength in Yoga Read More »
This morning, as the sun rises on the summer solstice, it marks the climax of the year when the sun is in its highest and longest embrace with the sky. Let us bask in the glorious warmth and endless light of midsummer, leaning into love for nature all around and its bright, clear and essential
Celebrating Solstice; Embracing Change in Perimenopause Read More »
Consider your feet. Each one has 26 bones, 33 joints and more than one hundred muscles, tendons and ligaments. That’s a lot of moving parts. Are yours all in working order? I know mine aren’t. Years ago I suffered from a painful condition known as Morton’s Neuroma which still occasionally recurs (I now suspect it was
Feet Glorious Feet Read More »
City Life vs Country Living We all instinctively know that spending time in nature is good for us. Not a week seems to go by without someone saying living in the countryside is better than the city for both your physical and mental wellbeing. In reality, the evidence is surprisingly scant and not as clear-cut as you
Yoga, Nature and the Magical River Room Studio Read More »
It’s April. Happy Days. The sun has finally made an appearance after what has occasionally felt like the longest winter on record and from now until October in the UK we can start to synthesise vitamin D just by being outdoors. Our winters aren’t just grey, wet and dreary, our location in the northern hemisphere
Here Comes the Sun: Vitamin D Read More »
